Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-03-17
Correspondence of the Beacon.l

Ward Beecher, etc
The beginning of Lent in this city re-
minds one of dress worn at a masquerade
ball not long ago of which one side was a
Warehouses costume of the eighteenth
century with powder patches, harp and
diamonds, and on the other the sombre,
heavy garb of a clustered nun. The last
days of the gay season have been almost
evenly divided after the same fashion, balls,
dinners, receptions, card parties and every
form of social entertainment, followed by
the most complete stagnation and mani
fest enjoyment of repose after brilliant
season OF gay life. Gayeties closed with
cottiion at Delmonico's and a ball given
by the Elks at Irving Hall, both OF which
were elaborate affairs and greatly enjoyed
by all who attended. AT the cottillion the
Hungarian band played its widest, weird
est music and kept feet flying and heads
nodding in sympathetic unison from the
beginning to the end Of the evening. That
no one proposes TO be buried out of sight
during Lent is clearly indicated, however,
in long list of readings, lectures, concerts,
luncheons, dinners, card and theatre par
ties that have been planned and promised
for the next six weeks. Organ and piano
recitals, oratorios and symphonies, lectures
by Prof. Boyeson on the poets, novelties
and antiquities at the theatres, mind read
ing, palm reading and horse training will
all do their part towards making the days
draw their length less YEARLY along until
| Spring costumes and coaching and evening
pleasures rises upon the society world once
more. Among the social reunions at gentle
mems houseswhich are considered especially
suitable for the season ofpenitence, possibly
on account of the weeping and crashing of
teeth by which they are often followed, are
poker and whist parties, There are clubs
composed of ladies and gentlemen who
meet several times a week, at each others
houses, and where the play is so high that
the stakes would startle many veteran
club man. Women who have had expe-
rience and practice are often better card
players than men, and an Englishman who
was present at one of these poker parties
not long since watched with the deepest in
terest and establishment the play ola prom
inent society lady who bluffed her adver-
sary out IF a large sum of money with a
smiling unconcern and an absolute control
of muscle and feature that was perfectly
inimtable. The Britisher declared that the
game was better worth seeing than Nigga
IA, and the woman the greatest natural Gu
riosity that had ever crossed his path.
OCEAN YACHT RACE.
Just now the great ocean race between
the schooner yachts "Dauntess' and Cor
onet' is the chief topic ofmany. It is a
weIl-known fact that over $2OO0OO has al
ready been wagcrcd on the result and as
much more will probably change hands on
that day. Both vessels have been thor.
Oughly overhauled and put in fl.i class
condition to start early in March. The
"Dauntl IS" is so far the iavorite on account
in the opinion Of your correspondent, will
win the race. She is Of recent build, and
her lines and model are much cleaner and
finer than her opponent. On the other
hand, the Dauntless is commanded by a
veteran skipper, Capt. Saml. SamuelB, who
for many years sailed the famous clipper
ship "Dreadway' of the Red Gross Line
to Liverpool. Capt Crosby, too, who com
mands the "Coronet," is a man with re-
cord and comes of stock wellknown az
skillful shipmasters. He halls FROM East
port, Maine that old New England town
famous for its able seamen. II issaie to
say that both men will endeayor to1nain.
tain their record At any event, andas one
or the other of the beautiful whitoswings
will be left in the wake Of her fair rival, it
will be Joy to know that from the main
gait of the winner will flutter to the breeze
the stars and stripes Of our own beloved
country, and that England with all her
magnificent ships and formidable navy has
never produced a yacht that has carried
! away across the sea our AmericaB Cup
The sloop Mayfower, the conquered u the
"Galatea," also goes over about June 1st in
charge of her designer, Edward Burgess 10
contest with the so ton cutter, Arrow, for
: the possession Of the Queens Cup. Gen.
Paine, her owner, is quite confident Of sue
cess, and from what / saw Of her myself
last Summer, the crack yachts Of the Royal
Navy will have to "hustle" ifthey show her
their heels
THE LABOR WORLD.
All is quiet in the Labor World. The
great strike Of the coal handlers has long
since been declared off and all the men
have returned to work. There never was
a time when business looked 80 bright in
New York as now. Everybody seemshap-
! py ands plentysto dc, lpbe Iing-el tllasan-
4 vi, the whir Of machinery and the s6ngfoi
the longshoreman sound pleasantly insthe
air, while the cherry faced artizan ~ he
hurries home through the gathering gloom
al the end Of day causes feeling ofdelight
as he greets you Iaughingly on the way.
THE THEATRES.
The German Opera season, the most sue.
cessful ever seen in New York, is over. Fl.
nancially there have been small profits for
the Managers, but they are repaid for their
untiring efforts in placing before the Amer